Kevin Magnussen to drive for Renault in upcoming Formula One season

03 Feb 2016 13:23

Former McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen has completed a remarkable comeback after being confirmed at Renault for the upcoming Formula One season.

Magnussen, who will partner Briton Jolyon Palmer in his first season, appeared to be heading out of the sport after he was released by McLaren via an email on his birthday in October.

But the 23-year-old Dane has been named as Renault's new driver and replaces Pastor Maldonado, who earlier this week confirmed he would not be on the grid in 2016.

Magnussen was officially unveiled at Renault's car launch in Paris on Wednesday. The French manufacturer, who completed their takeover of Lotus at the end of last year, are returning as a constructor to Formula One following their withdrawal as a full works' team in 2010.

Renault's new challenger, the RS16, will make its on-track debut at the first winter test in Barcelona which gets under way on February 22.